river trips 5 best things about the Green-Lodore Stunning, red-rock canyon walls Native American rock art Prehistoric fossils Fascinating geologic features Spectacular (and easy) side-hikes SPECIFICS Length in days: 4 Length in miles: 44 Overall difficulty: III Highest difficulty (#): III+ (1) A colorful adventure in a magical canyon Rapids/day: ~5 The Green River through Lodore Canyon offers one of the best family vacation Gradient: 13 feet/mile and first-time rafting trips in the United States. Within Dinosaur National Signature Rapids: Monument the Green River winds its way through three distinct canyons: Lodore, Disaster Falls, Hell’s Half Mile with its red rock walls and famous trio of rapids; Whirlpool, which features Jones Types of boats: Hole Creek and echoing cliffs; and Split Mountain, which contains geological Oar, paddle & inflatable kayak curiosities and exciting whitewater. First traversed by Major John Wesley Powell Minimum recommended age: in 1869, the Green is still a wonderful introduction to the special world of desert 8 in May & June, 6 in July & August rivers. Rapids: Our trips travel 44 miles through the dramatic sandstone cliffs and enchanting Scenery: canyons of the imposing Uinta Mountains in Colorado and Utah. The region has Wilderness: quite a history, and it shares it delicately through geologic wonders, sublime rock Swimming: forms, mysterious fossils, and fleeting remnants of Native American pictographs Hiking: and petroglyphs. Each mile brings a new vista: sheer rust-red blocks of Uintah Campsites: Quartzite, wide wedding-cake tiers of creamy Weber Sandstone, or jumbled Wildlife: hillsides of juniper and spruce. There are numerous side canyons, grottoes and Fishing: waterfalls to explore, lots of wildlife to see, and big beaches to enjoy. There are places to swim, places to daydream and places to play. 5 There are fun rapids with inflated names like best things about ARTA Disaster Falls and Hell’s Half Mile to make Friendly, fun & gracious guides things exciting and there are stretches of peaceful calm water to make things relaxing. Active, engaging & informal style And everything is within Dinosaur National Steadfast commitment to safety Monument so the area is pristine, protected Over 50 years of experience and peaceful. on the west’s most iconic rivers “The scenery was out of this world. I enjoyed We donate our profits back to exploring the area with the hikes from camp, and protecting the environment the campsites themselves were spectacular!” Amy Catalano ARTA RIVER TRIPS | 24000 Casa Loma Road Groveland CA 95321 | 209-962-7873 | [email protected] | www.arta.org Where and when to meet Meeting Place We'll meet you at 8:00 pm the evening before your trip begins near the swimming pool Dinosaur Inn and Suites at the Dinosaur Inn and Suites (435/315-0123) in Vernal, Utah. We'll give you your 251 East Main Street, Vernal, UT 84078 waterproof bags, go over final trip logistics, and answer any last minute questions. The 435/315-0123 following morning we will re-convene at Split Mountain Boat Ramp in Dinosaur National Meeting Time Monument for the shuttle to the launch site. Your lead guide will have directions and 8:00 pm the day before your launch date. times. The trip will conclude at Split Mountain around 3:00 p.m. on the last day. Return Time The trip will end at Split Mountain Boat How to get there Ramp around 3:00 on the last day. Driving: Vernal is on State Highway 40, approximately 180 miles, (3 hours), east of Salt Lake City. The Dinosaur Inn is next to the museum in the heart of downtown. Directions Pre-trip checklist to Split Mountain Boat Ramp, (30 minutes outside of town), will be given at the pre-trip ❍ Complete on-line registration (follow the directions and link that meeting. There is a fee to enter the Park and vehicles will be left at the Boat Ramp for the came with your original reservation) duration of the trip. ❍ Reserve pre- & post-trip lodging Flying: You can fly into Salt Lake City and rent a car for the three-hour drive to Vernal or (most people stay at The Dinosaur Inn fly directly into Vernal through Denver on United/SkyWest. For transportation between other options are listed to the right). the airport and your motel contact your motel or Vernal City Cab (435/414-1779). If you fly ❍ Plan for the unexpected directly into Vernal and do not have a car for the drive to Split Mountain Boat Ramp, (purchase Travel Insurance through contact us so that we can help you arrange this transportation. USI Travel Insurance). ❍ Gather and pack your gear Where to stay (there is a complete list on the There are many lodging options in Vernal, most of them unremarkable. The Dinosaur Inn Equipment page; call if you have any is the most convenient; nearby are the Ledgestone Hotel and the Days Inn Vernal. questions). Camping is available in Dinosaur National Monument, 30 minutes from Vernal; campsite reservations can be made through www.recreation.gov. What we provide • Transportation from Split Mountain Itinerary Boat Ramp to the river. Day 1: We will reconvene at the Split Mountain Boat Ramp 30 minutes east of Vernal • Friendly, entertaining and professional guide service. where we will leave our cars for the duration of the trip. We will then take a three-hour • All meals from lunch on the first day bus ride into Colorado and to our actual launching point at Gates of Lodore Campground to lunch on the last day. in Dinosaur National Monument, stopping at a liquor store in Colorado on our way. After • All taxes and government access fees. a thorough safety briefing and trip orientation, we will launch around noon and float a few • Waterproof bags, lifejackets, and miles to our first night’s camp in the heart of the canyon. other specialized river touring Days 2 & 3: A typical day on the Green starts with coffee and a hearty breakfast before we equipment for the trip. pack our bags and load on to the rafts. We will float an average of 8 - 12 miles, (4 - 5 What you are responsible for hours), each day, stopping for a picnic lunch and perhaps to take a short hike or explore an • Transportation to Split Mountain historical site. There are rapids every day and we’ll scout some of them. Camp will be Boat Ramp (30 minutes from Vernal). made in the late afternoon with early evening available for hiking, swimming or relaxing. • Meals and lodging before and after Day 4: An early morning prepares us for our longest day on the river as we float through your trip. Island and Rainbow Parks then run the many rapids of Split Mountain Canyon. We usually • Personal clothing and toiletries (see Equipment page). arrive at Split Mountain Boat Ramp, (where we left our vehicles) , around 3:00 on the last • Camping gear (see Equipment page day. for information on renting equipment from ARTA). Local Attractions • Soda, wine, alcoholic beverages (see Dinosaur National Monument has a museum where you can touch real dinosaur fossils; Details page). plan a trip to the Visitor’s Center before or after your river trip. Also within a day's drive of • Guide gratuities (see Details page). Vernal are Canyonlands and Arches National Parks as well as Flaming Gorge Recreation Area. ARTA RIVER TRIPS | 24000 Casa Loma Road Groveland CA 95321 | 209-962-7873 | [email protected] | www.arta.org Types of boats Weather On the Green we usually have three types of boats in which to The high desert country of the Green River enjoys daytime ride: temperatures in the 80's and 90's, cooling off into the 60's at night, with occasional thunderstorms. There is ample shade at Paddle rafts are 14 feet long and carry 6 or 7 camps and lunch stops, however while we are on the rafts, the sun paddlers who actively paddle through the rapids can be direct. Sunblock and lightweight synthetic or cotton and down the river. Everyone has a paddle, sits on the outer tube of the raft, and follows the clothing will help you to avoid sunburn and a hat and bandanna instructions of the paddle captain who sits in will help keep you cool. Although the Green River flows through the back. arid country, it does rain. We recommend that you bring good rain protection (waterproof rain jacket and good tent). The water Oar rafts are 18 feet long, carry all of the temperature is chilly in June, but warms up pleasantly by late July overnight gear and up to 5 guests. They are and August. rowed by a guide using oars attached to a metal frame. Guests ride in the front, hang on through Wildlife the rapids and relax in the calm stretches. Bighorn sheep and mule deer inhabit the Green River canyon and we often spot them along shore or while hiking. Birdlife is also Inflatable kayaks are 10 - 12 feet long and are fairly abundant and we usually see hawks, falcons, geese and a paddled by 1 or 2 people using double-bladed paddles. They are fairly stable, require no wide assortment of smaller birds; binoculars are fun to have. previous experience and allow you to feel the thrill of independently paddling the river. Fishing Due to the flow fluctuations and water clarity, fishing in the Green The number and type of boats that we bring depends on the water levels and the size is not that good; however Jones Hole Creek, where we arrive on of the trip. A full Lodore trip of 25 people will usually have 2 paddle rafts and 4 or 5 inflatable kayaks.